I Conquered the Brooding Young Lady 1
The rules of the graduation ceremony, proclaimed by the Second Princess: Until every attending family makes their selection, everyone must stay in their seats.
"Kids, sorry about that. Let's head back to our spots."
Under Cecile's guidance, I and the other children returned to our places. And the fancy nobles were no different. Grumbles echoed here and there.
"Just how many people are getting screwed over by this?"
"You think a kid who was rolling in the mud knows the first thing about etiquette?"
The imperial side was no exception.
"……."
Mrs. Victoria returned with a face full of displeasure. Her maid carefully straightened her golden hair from behind.
The flustered host, panting hard from his sprint over, continued the proceedings in a breathless voice.
"Lady Violet of the Gamigin family has arrived. We truly thank you all for graciously sparing your precious time once more…."
The woman called Violet stepped forward slowly.
"What's with that black mask?"
"Hiding her face means she's got something to hide, right? Must be some ugly scar."
The nobles whispered loudly enough for anyone to hear, but Violet glided past them without a flicker of expression.
Cough. "Now, I will call the names of the children who will carry on Gamigin's glory. Lady? Your selections…."
If anything, the host seemed a bit spooked. River wrinkled her nose, sensing the ominous vibe too.
"Nael. That big sis feels kinda scary."
"All women are scary by nature."
In that instant, Violet's eyes flashed.
"……."
Her red eyes swept over the crowd. Then, a slender finger pointed at one child.
"Brad!"
The host's amplification magic boomed out. Her indifferent pointing continued.
"Luis!"
She picked kids like she was shopping at the market, her unfocused eyes gleaming with an eerie light.
She's not using Appraisal, is she?
Sweeping up orphans wasn't an issue. The problem was they were all the ones I'd been eyeing.
"Nael. Didn't we agree Brad and Luis would team up with us?"
"Yeah."
They had crap physical stats otherwise, but sky-high health—useless in real fights, basically.
"Tom! Godric!"
Violet was plucking away the exact kids I'd marked for conquering the dungeon's first floor.
I was certain now.
Appraisal it is. And the kind that spots Health.
Appraisal. A trait you only get after hitting Wisdom 14—around 4th Tier. Depending on the options, it reveals specific stats, sees through walls, deciphers spells…
"Ah."
…and nullifies enchants.
Time for a gamble.
My trait had granted the mask Charisma Correction, which was definitely an enchant.
I grabbed River's hand tight.
"River. Got a favor to ask."
"Huh? S-sure, anything! Spill it."
"That lady's probably gonna call you soon. When she does…."
Flexible play to adapt to the shifting situation. The spice of Dungeon & Fantasy.
2.
Victoria irritably stroked her lips. None of this situation sat well with her.
Because of some etiquette-blind nobody, she'd had to halt her departing carriage and waste extra minutes in this backwater village she'd never even heard of.
Obvious no-talents at a glance. Provincial minor nobles whose intentions were transparent.
This was no place for imperial blood.
What could possibly be worth coming to a rundown orphanage like this….
Of course, there'd been a reason for enduring the ordeal.
But even that slipped through my fingers.
To sum it up: pure misery.
She glared at Lady Violet with eyes brimming with annoyance.
Still, it would be over soon if she just waited a bit.
"Gamigin's final selection is, River…."
For some reason, the host's words didn't finish.
"……."
The nobles' eyes turned to quietly seated Victoria.
The host hurriedly addressed Violet.
"Ah, Lady. Your eye for talent is impeccable, as expected. But that child has chosen not to join any house…."
The reason everyone watched Victoria's reaction was obvious.
River. The girl who'd rejected Victoria's recruitment.
"That woman's lost her mind."
Victoria bit her lip. The real treasure revealed at the swordsmanship tournament wasn't the winner, Lilian.
River.
Her swordplay was clumsy, and even accounting for being beastkin, her stamina and recovery were absurd. Taking most attacks head-on through six straight matches to reach the finals—it had left quite the impression.
Victoria had come here for that beastkin girl.
They'd even talked a bit. The panting and shedding fur made her grimace despite herself, but she'd endured, figuring she'd shine her up for His Majesty's notice.
But…
'I don't plan to join any house!'
No one had expected the refusal.
"She must not have heard."
"Such a shame. Nothing good comes from catching the imperial eye…."
"What's so shameful about it?"
Some families knew, so they coveted River but could only lick their chops. No way she'd join them after snubbing the imperials—challenging it would slap the throne's face.
And as they eyed Victoria…
"Oh? If she doesn't want to, fine. Too bad."
That oblivious, vulgar woman had doused them with cold water.
"Ma'am. You alright?"
"Hah…."
Victoria silently pressed her forehead. Gamigin. She'd crush that house if it was the last thing she did.
"Then, disregard the last one, and we'll conclude the graduation ceremony."
Just as it was wrapping up.
"W-wait a sec!!"
River raised her hand.
"I wanna go to the Gamigin house!"
Victoria's composure shattered.
3.
"Uh, this graduation is conducted honorably and justly under the Imperial Law set by His Majesty the Emperor, with each individual's choice freely guaranteed…."
As the host fawningly navigated the grim mood.
Violet quietly scanned the crowd. No more worth taking.
Then River climbed the podium.
"H-hi…."
She approached hesitantly. Violet immediately pointed to the orphanage entrance.
"Hi. Once the ceremony ends, get in that carriage over there and wait."
"Um, one request…."
A request right off the bat.
Fine. A little greed's fine.
Violet's eyes held a blessing that pierced a target's vitality. Couldn't see tiers or mana, but perfect for picking sturdy ones.
And this kid shone brightest. Brown-furred dog beastkin. Name was…
"What's your name again?"
"River."
River.
"Right. What do you want?"
Violet asked in her flat voice.
Worth investing up to 5 gold in welcome gifts.
"Can you take Nael too?"
"Nael?"
Her gaze followed River's finger.
"The one with the mask?"
"Yes."
Among the bustling orphans, one chatting with the rabbit beastkin stood out. She squinted and activated Appraisal.
Just a faint glow.
Not sturdy, huh. Small build too. Mask means facial scars? Rotten luck.
Turning a normal orphan useful cost at least 20 gold. Out for a welcome gift.
"Does this Nael friend have any special skills?"
"Nael's great with animals!"
Violet glanced at the perky-eared rabbit beastkin, then River's wagging tail, and nodded.
"Yeah. Looks like he handles animals well."
"So he can come?"
River's face lit up.
"Hm…."
No answer, so River stomped and piled on.
"Best with dogs, rabbits—crows too! Studies hard, smells nice…."
Interest flickered in her red eyes.
River seized it, ranting on.
"Was gonna keep it secret, but he's hot! Super pretty!"
"Oh?"
Violet's ears perked.
Exceptions existed, but standout necromancers were all beauties. If he truly handled animals, high talent for necromancy.
Her eyes shifted back to Nael.
"If he's that handsome, why the mask?"
"He was super cute till seven, but hasn't shown his face since…."
River added uncertainly.
"Hmph. Believe that…."
That plain white mask was only for scarred kids.
No harm checking.
Her eyes also pierced objects. A bit of mana, and she could peek under the mask right here.
Wonder what he looks like.
With casual curiosity, Violet activated Appraisal.
4.
Despite the glares, River steadfastly climbed the podium. And fulfilled her role perfectly.
Here it comes.
Our eyes met Violet's.
Whoosh—
Her blazing red gaze hit the mask. Piercing beyond, to my dilated pupils.
I swallowed dryly.
The mask's Charisma Correction was a level 5 enchant. Tough to pierce without high Wisdom.
Needs 16+ Wisdom. Unlikely a 6th Tier powerhouse visits this backwater.
A calculated gamble. But worth it—joining Gamigin would change everything after.
"……."
"……."
Time froze. Ambient noise faded.
Tense moment. Heart pounding loud. As her piercing stare entangled me, time lost meaning…
"Kuh, cough!"
A harsh cough shattered the silence.
Violet's icy eyes melted in an instant. Her slender fingers covered her mask.
"H-huh…."
Like she'd seen something indecent, her pointed ears flushed red behind the covered face.
"What's with her?"
"Did she take some weird drug?"
The murmuring crowd. Even the host paused to stare.
As all eyes focused…
"Hold on."
Her trembling finger pointed at me.
"That masked kid too. Gamigin takes him."
Her voice sounded oddly giddy.